|
Poster Abstracts
Title: Salt Production in Syracuse New York ("The Salt City") and the Hydrogeology
of the Onondaga Creek Valley
Authors:
Bill Kappel
US Geological Survey, 30 Brown Road, Ithaca, NY 14850-1248
Abstract: Brine from springs in and around the southern end of Onondaga Lake, from former brine wells dug or drilled at the lakes' edge, and from wells that tapped halite (common salt) beds near Tully, N.Y., 15 miles south of Syracuse, were used commercially from the late 1700's through the early 1900's for salt production. The rapid development of this industry in the 18th and 19th centuries led to the nicknaming of Syracuse as "The Salt City". The brine originates from halite beds of the Salina Group shales of central New York. The dissolution of halite by ground water creates a brine that moves through an unconsolidated basal aquifer northward to the springs near Syracuse.
This poster briefly presents the history of salt production in the Syracuse area, explains the origin of the halite deposits and the ground-water flow paths from the halite beds to Onondaga Lake, and discusses the need to understand the hydrogeology of the Onondaga Valley and potential changes in water quality (specifically salt water) in relation to current remediation of Onondaga Lake and other contaminated sites in the Onondaga Creek watershed.
Title: Interpreting Onondaga Lake: SUNY-CESF Roosevelt Wild Life Program's Contributions to EMPACT
Authors:
Paul B. Hai and D. Andrew Saunders
Roosevelt Wild Life Program
SUNY ESF
Syracuse, NY
Abstract: Seven different educational projects are underway to impact community knowledge about Onondaga Lake, generally considered the most polluted lake in the nation. The design process for all projects utilizes the tenets and principles of thematic interpretation, an education process that focuses on communicating a message through the interaction of audience and material. This is achieved by the use several techniques including first-hand experience and original objects. The Roosevelt Wild Life Program of the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry is coordinating this project, which includes (1) public interpretive lake-side walks, (2-4) an interpretive lake-side trail with accompanying illustrated booklet and interpretive CD, (5) an interactive kiosk located at the regional science museum, (6) an interpretive curriculum and associated teacher training course developed for the Syracuse City School District and (7) a day long interpretive fair for district students exposing them to a broad range of hands-on experiences relating Onondaga Lake to science education in the classroom.
Title: EMPACT METRO Project: Resolution of Multiple Signatures of Water Quality Impacts in Onondaga Lake, and Seneca River, NY, using Remote Monitoring Buoys
Authors:
David M. O'Donnell
Innovative Engineering & Technology, Syracuse, NY 13206
Steven W. Effler
Upstate Freshwater Institute, P.O. Box 506, Syracuse, New York 13214
Abstract: Two RUSS (Remote Underwater Sampling Station) buoys from Apprise Technologies have been collecting multiple profiles within individual days at a deep (~ 19 m) location in Onondaga Lake since May 2000 and in the river downstream of the lake outflow since August 2000. These buoys are equipped with temperature (T), specific conductance (SC), dissolved oxygen (DO), redox potential (ORP), pH, turbidity (Tn), and chlorophyll (Chl) sensors. Additionally the lake buoy is equipped with up- and downwelling irradiance (I) sensors, a chloride (Cl-) probe, and a meteorological station. Onondaga Lake, located in metropolitan Syracuse, NY, has been described as the most polluted lake in the United States, suffering from residual industrial waste inputs and large nutrient loads from the local domestic waste treatment facility. The river is impacted by a zebra mussel invasion and outflow from the lake. Data from the bouy are delivered in near-real-time to a web site (www.ourlake.org) for dissemination to the community, local schools, lake managers, and the research community. Example vertically and temporally detailed patterns are presented that depict several of the degraded features of the lake and river. These patterns include: (1) features of the spring phytoplankton bloom (Chl) and subsequent clearing phase (Chl, Tn), (2) the progressive depletion of hypolimnetic DO, and (3) the occurrence of mid-depth salinity maxima (SC) from the plunging of saline inflow, (4) the effect of zebra mussel respiration and hypereutrophic lake outflow in the river are shown in (DO) and (Tn).
 |
Title: Cyanobacteria Toxins in Upstate New York Waters: A Comparison of Onondaga Lake and Oneida Lake.
Authors:
Gregory L. Boyer, Xingye Yang, Elizabeth A. Patchett, and Michael F. Satchwell
Department of Chemistry
SUNY ESF
Syracuse, New York, 13210
Abstract: Cyanobacteria toxins are receiving increasing attention as a problem for recreational and human drinking water supplies. These compounds are divided into several different types. They include hepatotoxins such as microcystin and cylindrospermopsin, and neurotoxins such as the PSP toxin and anatoxin-a. A 1996 microcystin outbreak in Caruaru, Brazil, resulted in nearly 100 human fatalities and lead the WHO to establish a regulatory limit of 1 mg L-1 for microcystin-LR in drinking water. Closer to home, blue-green algal blooms during 1999 and 2000 in Lake Champlain, NY, claimed the life of several dogs due to anatoxin-a poisoning. Both Onondaga and Oneida Lake are characterized by having well established cyanobacteria populations with bloom events occurring annually. Thus the potential for a toxic cyanobacteria bloom in these two lakes is high.
SUNY-ESF has made several major capital investments to set up a facility for the analysis of cyanobacteria toxins. We currently analyze for microcystins using an enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA), a protein phosphatase inhibition assay (PP2A) and by liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy (LCMS). Anatoxin-a and the PSP toxins are detected using liquid chromatography with fluorescent detection. As part of a state-wide sampling program, water samples were collected during July and August from around the state and analyzed for cyanobacteria toxins. Of the 13 samples collected from Onondaga lake, 1 tested positive for microcystins and a second tested positive for anatoxin-a. In contrast, 22 samples were collected from Oneida Lake. Eleven (50%) tested positive for microcystins by ELISA, 9 of which exceeded the WHO regulatory limit of 1 mg L-1. Confirmation of toxin production by LCMS and further analysis of this data set is currently in progress. This represents the first confirmed report of blue-green algal toxins in New York State waters. (Supported by New York State Sea Grant)
Title: Mercury Dynamics in Onondaga Lake and Adjacent Wetlands
Authors:
Charles W. Sharpe and Charles T. Driscoll
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY
Abstract: In this study, the dynamics of mercury (Hg) are being investigated in the water column and adjacent wetlands of Onondaga Lake. Water column studies focus on the total and methyl Hg (MeHg) dynamics in the oxic/anoxic hypolimnion and the fate of Hg through the fall mixing period. The adjacent wetlands are being studied in an inaugural effort to characterize the temporal patterns of water pool concentrations of methyl and total Hg (HgT). Preliminary results showed HgT concentrations in the water column ranging from 1.4 ng/L to 17.5 ng/L, with MeHg ranging from 0 ng/L to 11.9 ng/L. Peak concentrations of MeHg were evident at 19 meters in early July and at 15 meters in later August, during the anoxic period of the hypolimnion covering July 4th through November 6th. Settling particles collected using sediment traps at a depth of 10 meters will be analyzed for Hg concentrations and combined with water column concentrations to develop a hypolimnetic mass balance to address the ultimate fate of Hg in the lake. Total Hg concentrations in wetland waters ranged between 0.3 ng/L and 41 ng/L among the sites, while the MeHg concentrations fell between 0 ng/L and 34.1 ng/L. No sources of Hg to the wetland sites have been identified. The temporal patterns of HgT and MeHg in wetland drainage waters were highly variable across the sites investigated. The percentage of HgT that occurred as MeHg displayed a similar range between the water column and the wetland sites. Methyl Hg concentrations were between 0% and 96% of the HgT available, with one wetland site averaging 70% HgT as MeHg. The temporal patterns of the percentage of HgT occurring as MeHg were also highly variable.
 |
Title: Exploring the Onondaga Lake Watershed: Syracuse EMPACT Project Curriculum Development
Authors:
Richard List
Project Director
Syracuse City School District
Abstract: National, state and local standards serve to define excellence in teaching and learning. While establishing standards and assessments occurs at the state level, it is the local community that implements the strategies needed for success. Monitoring performance indicators, aligning professional development with improvement goals, and developing a "positive mindset" are key processes that can only occur within a community. Communities that take a coordinated approach to improve achievement by including a locally owned "culture of accountability" and focus on defined student skills have had noted success. The Syracuse Community, Syracuse, New York, has developed a consortium of organizations that includes the Syracuse City School District (SCSD), a research institute, two universities, local business, industry, and a federally chartered lake management conference (representing, local, state and federal governments) to identify and develop instructional resources to facilitate excellence in teaching and learning. Through this consortium, our community will leverage its resources to develop effective instructional experiences that use local issues to enrich instruction, increase the meaning of instruction, and improve student achievement. Exploring the Onondaga Lake Watershed Project is in the process of developing instructional resources that will allow teachers facilitate learning activities on any subject using examples and experiences found with in the watershed. These resources need to link the knowledge and skills developed through exploration of the watershed with New York State Learning Standards.
The poster will present curricula maps and frameworks that connect local experiences and issues with state standards and assessments. Driving Questions that promote inquiry into the issues will be presented along with samples of curricula being developed. Strategies for assessing students' mastery of state define skills and knowledge as well as, understanding of local issues will be discussed. Upon completion this project will serve as an effective tool to: connect student learning to local issues and problems; actively involve students in the monitoring of the Lake and its watershed; promote excellence in teaching and learning through involvement in local issues.
Title: Onondaga Lake Hydrothermal and Water Quality Modeling
Authors:
Susan M. Doerr O'Donnell
Upstate Freshwater Institute
Syracuse, NY 13214
Abstract: A dynamic multi-layer one-dimensional mass balance hydrothermal-nutrient-phytoplankton model is being developed and tested for Onondaga Lake. The hydrodynamic sub-model solves the heat conservation equations, including water surface heat transfer, internal transport of heat by advection and diffusion, and transfer of heat due to inflow and outflow. The nutrient-phytoplankton sub-model solves the advection and diffusion equations for multiple constituents while accounting for process kinetics. Good model performance is demonstrated in the simulation of temperature (T), chloride (Cl-), dissolved oxygen (DO), and total ammonia (T-NH3) profiles. These profiles illustrate that the model captures salient features such as: (1) plunging of inflows (Cl-), (2) hypolimnetic anoxia (DO), and (3) hypolimnetic accumulation of total ammonia (T-NH3). With the model capturing the plunging of tributary inflows, it effectively illustrates how associated nutrient loads to support phytoplankton growth in the lake are reduced.
Title: Limitations to Zebra Mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) in a Polluted Urban Lake
Authors:
Michael Spada
Upstate Freshwater Institute
P.O. Box 50
Syracuse, NY 13214
Neil H. Ringler
SUNY ESF
Syracuse, NY
Abstract: In most systems where zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) become established they reach nuisance densities. Despite high densities in the adjoining Seneca River, populations in Onondaga Lake remained barely detectable for almost seven years. We hypothesized that emigration from the river was insufficient to overcome lake constraints. Substrate availability and fish predation were tested as possible constraints. In 1997 colonization patterns suggested that the river was a source of mussels, but in 1998 larval and settlement densities were low. We found sufficient substrate to support greater numbers of mussels than observed. An exclosure experiment with translocated mussels revealed 99% removal within two weeks, although it is unlikely that fish predation is the sole factor in limiting mussels, since similar species are found in the river. Zebra mussel appeared to be limited by the polluted conditions of Onondaga Lake and lack of protected substrate. Recently mussel populations have exploded, perhaps aided by changing lake conditions.
 |
Title: Industry Runs A-Muck: Mapping Sediment Contamination in Onondaga Lake.
Authors:
Myrna Hall and Donald Hughes
SUNY ESF
Syracuse, New York
Abstract: Over 100 core samples of Onondaga Lake sediments were collected in 1992 as part of the Onondaga Lake Superfund investigations. Sediment analyses reveal that a wide variety of contaminants are spread throughout the lake bottom's upper 2 meters, including mercury and other heavy metals, chlorobenzenes, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and diphenyl ethanes. These pollutants are a silent testament to 100 years of industrial production of inorganic chemicals (e.g. soda ash, chlorine); organic chemicals (e.g. benzene, toluene, chlorobenzenes, coal tar); and steel. Many manufacturing industries, including the Solvay Process Company (started 1884), Onondaga Iron Works (1869), Crucible Steel and others fueled the economic growth and development of Syracuse, NY. However, one hundred years of unconstrained industrial waste disposal, first to unwanted wetlands, and then to the lake itself, have now left the city of Syracuse with the ignoble distinction of possessing the nation's 'dirtiest lake'.
In order to assess the level and extent of some of the most persistent contaminants found in the lake's bottom, we used the geostatistical function known as 'kriging' to map mercury, dichlorobenzenes, PCBs, and benzene in the surface (0-30 cm) sediments. . Cressie (1993) defines 'kriging' as making inferences on unobserved values of the random process in the z dimension, and states that it is "synonymous with 'optimal prediction'." Although the level and extent of most contaminants is greater in the deeper sediments, it is the contaminants in the upper layer of the lake's sediments that pose the highest risk to wildlife and human health. Here the potential for release of contaminants into the water column and to lake biota is the most likely. To assess the severity of sediment contamination, chemical concentrations were compared with New York State sediment criteria (NYSDEC, 1999). Our analysis is conservative. For all samples marked as 'non-detect', i.e. the value reported falls somewhere between that value and zero, we assign a value of zero. Total organic carbon (OC) levels were employed for criteria expressed in terms of OC content (i.e. non-polar organic chemicals). Sediments containing less than criteria values are considered "non-toxic" for that chemical. Contaminated sediments were categorized by severity of contamination: 1-5 times the criteria, 5-25 times, 25-100 times, etc. We found that mercury concentrations in surface sediments are up to 33.8 times the NYS "severe effects level" criterion. Dichlorobenzenes (sum of o-, p-, and m- isomers) exceed the criterion based on chronic toxicity up to 113 times. For PCBs two criteria were used: 1) based on chronic toxicity to aquatic organisms, and 2) based on bioaccumulation in wildlife. These criteria were exceeded up to 23.4 and 323 times, respectively. Two criteria for benzene were employed as well. These were exceeded up to 27.9 times (chronic toxicity) and 1300 times (for protection of human health). We found that while nearly the entire lake sediment surface exceeds one or more sediment criteria, less than half of the surface sediments in Onondaga Lake are contaminated at >5 times the NYS sediment criteria for these pollutants.
|
